Teens Blog: Hot Beverages and Cool Books

Guys, it got way toocold way too fast and I’m having a hard time adjusting. Which isn’t to say I hate winter – I love snow and holidays. One of my favorite things in the world is sitting out of the cold on my couch with a blanket, a book and a hot drink (yes, this is yet another sign that – not surprisingly – I am a total book nerd). The only thing that can make this even better is the perfect hot drink and book pairing. There are infinite possibilities, but here are three I’ve been thinking about lately:

Hot tea and Etiquette & Espionage by Gail Carriger

There are many reasons for this. 1.) Gail Carriger is a HUGE tea lover, so it seems the appropriate drink it with any of her books. 2.) The Victorian setting. Drinking tea while reading about a classy old-fashioned high tea is just so SATISFYING. 3.) There are so many kinds of tea, so it’s easy to find one to suit each of the many wonderful things about this book. Something floral and light to suit the comedy and Victorian manners, maybe? Perhaps something mysterious and smoky to go with the spying espionage? Or something exotic and fruity to complement the alternate history and very memorable characters? So many teas, so few pages.

Coffee (preferably with cream, sugar, and possibly even caramel) and The Girl of Fire and Thorns by Rae Carson

First off, coffee suits the Spain-like setting at the beginning of the book and the somewhat Middle Eastern desert setting of the rest of it. Moreover, coffee (especially sweet coffee!) suits the amazing heroine of the book, Elisa. Elisa loves (and I mean loves) sweets. She starts the book deceptively powerless despite her smarts, handed off in marriage without even being asked. But below it all, she is strong, strong enough to learn new things, to try to be the best person she can be despite her doubts and flaws and even to get involved in a revolution. Just like the bitterness and caffeine hiding behind all the deceptive sugar in whatever variation of mocha-caramel-whipped cream latte you choose to go with her book, Elisa’s inner strength is hidden behind a deceptive exterior.

This is little bit of a cop-out, since my comfort reads might not be yours. But something about hot chocolate and a beloved, familiar book just works. Despite all the high-stakes drama and action in the Harry Potter series or Tamora Pierce’s books, they are ultimately comforting and comfortable for me. I love them so much, and I’ve read them so many times, that reading them again is just as delightful and just as snuggly as a warm bed and warm chocolate. So pick a favorite, any favorite and settle in with some extra chocolate-y hot chocolate and a blanket. Because it’s probably going to be freaking cold for way too long.